FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2020
Contact: Jake Oliver, jake@anatgerstein.com, (347) 361-9983
New York, N.Y. (September 29, 2020)— Citizens Union has issued the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to the reports of voters in New York City being sent incorrect absentee ballots:
“The recently reported absentee ballot mishaps in Brooklyn and Queens have only exacerbated what was already poised to be a difficult and confusing election for voters. New York has to get this right. We know that President Trump will seize on anything he can to attempt to undermine the legitimacy of mail in ballots in New York City.”
“The Board of Elections must take steps to ensure that the voters get the right ballot well in advance of Election Day. It should increase staffing at their call and email center. Then voters can call into the center at 1-866-VOTE-NYC to report receiving incorrect ballots, ask for a new one and be sent a new one and provide notice in the new ballot tracking system about the current status of those complaints.”
“New York City cannot afford to repeat the same problems of the June primary, when confusion and delays meant that thousands of voters did not know if they would get their absentee ballots on time. We encourage all voters who can, to take advantage of Early Voting, which is the best way to avoid crowded Election Day poll sites and ensure your ballot is counted in a timely manner.”
For follow up, please contact Jake Oliver at Anat Gerstein, Inc. at
jake@anatgerstein.com or 347-361-9983
About Citizens Union
For 120 years, Citizens Union (CU) has been a force for transparency, accountability and ethics in New York’s City and State governments. A nonpartisan organization, some of our current initiatives include increased voter participation and civic engagement, greater police accountability, and an accurate 2020 census. Learn more at www.citizensunion.org.